The recent American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, posted a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying global rivalry in the polar region. "I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything... We need Greenland very badly," he stated.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
